2021年8月2日 星期一

羅馬書12:18

 


若是能行,總要盡力與眾人和睦。

 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

 

*************

 

    雖然這好像是個人生活的教導,但是對於每一個人卻是非常重要的,因為我們每一個人都要面對自己和別人的關係。和人相處要注重「和睦」,而「和睦」和「平安」在希臘文是同一個字。除了彼此不爭吵之外,更是要讓彼此都覺得公平,也就是要彼此都覺得不被虧欠。

 

    因此,所謂的「與眾人和睦」,不是忍氣吞聲,而是要勇於表達,讓大家都意識到問題或不公平之處,使大家能共同思考,來解決問題和不公平,促進大家都能覺得公平,沒有被虧欠的情形,如此才會有真正的和睦。

 

    當然,人只能作到相對的和睦,真正的和睦還是要從上帝所賜的,那是要在上帝國完全實現才能享受得到。地上的和睦,當然也需要聖靈的引導,也要人與人之間的溝通與自我約束,是要「盡力」去行,而且是主動而非被動,上帝的兒女更是要主動來促成。

 

    求主幫助我們,讓我們在聖靈的引導下成為「和睦的使者」!

 

 

 

2021年8月1日 星期日

使徒行傳11:19-30

 


11:19 那些因司提反的事遭患難四散的門徒直走到腓尼基和塞浦路斯,並安提阿;他們不向別人講道,只向猶太人講。
11:20
但內中有塞浦路斯和古利奈人,他們到了安提阿也向希臘人傳講主耶穌(有古卷:也向說希臘話的猶太人傳講主耶穌)。
11:21
主與他們同在,信而歸主的人就很多了。
11:22
這風聲傳到耶路撒冷教會人的耳中,他們就打發巴拿巴出去,走到安提阿為止。
11:23
他到了那裡,看見上帝所賜的恩就歡喜,勸勉眾人,立定心志,恆久靠主。
11:24
這巴拿巴原是個好人,被聖靈充滿,大有信心。於是有許多人歸服了主。
11:25
他又往大數去找掃羅,
11:26
找著了,就帶他到安提阿去。他們足有一年的工夫和教會一同聚集,教訓了許多人。門徒稱為「基督徒」是從安提阿起首。
11:27
當那些日子,有幾位先知從耶路撒冷下到安提阿。
11:28
內中有一位,名叫亞迦布,站起來,藉著聖靈指明天下將有大饑荒。(這事到克勞第年間果然有了。)
11:29
於是門徒定意照各人的力量捐錢,送去供給住在猶太的弟兄。
11:30
他們就這樣行,把捐項託巴拿巴和掃羅送到眾長老那裡。

 

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

 

***********

 

    因為受迫害的緣故,教會不只在耶路撒冷,教會也在安提阿被建立,這更是教會在宣教上的進展!而教會在安提阿被建立,更是「上帝的宣教」的展現!因為教會可以在各個城市被建立,這也是為將來保羅的宣教(佈道)旅行埋下伏筆,因為教會可以在各地方建立,雖然如此教會還是一個!

 

    透過教會在安提阿建立,給我們開始了「教會論」的想法,教會是一群被上帝呼召的人,這一群人(門徒)被稱為「基督徒」是從安提阿起首。他們雖在安提阿,在聖靈的引導下,於饑荒尚未發生時,定意照各人的力量捐錢,送去供給住在猶太的弟兄。他們就這樣行,把捐項託巴拿巴和掃羅送到眾長老那裡。

 

    可見在安提阿的門徒不是和耶路撒冷的弟兄姊妹決裂的是在基督裡合一的這是真正的教會的表現這樣的表現不像一些自稱是教會的只說自己是教會別的宗派都是假的要別人出來參加他們的教會

 

    讓我們記得:教會只有一個,但是各地都可以建立。同樣宗派既是歷史的產物,但是教會仍然是合一的,我們都是「一主,一信,一洗,一上帝,就是眾人的父,超乎眾人之上,貫乎眾人之中,也住在眾人之內。」(以弗所書4:5-6)

 

 

使徒行傳11章

      使徒行傳11:1-18  , 使徒行傳11:18  , 

      使徒行傳11:19-30  ,

使徒行傳11:1-18

 


11:1 使徒和在猶太的眾弟兄聽說外邦人也領受了上帝的道。
11:2
及至彼得上了耶路撒冷,那些奉割禮的門徒和他爭辯說:
11:3
「你進入未受割禮之人的家和他們一同吃飯了。」
11:4
彼得就開口把這事挨次給他們講解說:
11:5
「我在約帕城裡禱告的時候,魂遊象外,看見異象,有一物降下,好像一塊大布,繫著四角,從天縋下,直來到我跟前。
11:6
我定睛觀看,見內中有地上四足的牲畜和野獸、昆蟲,並天上的飛鳥。
11:7
我且聽見有聲音向我說:『彼得,起來,宰了吃!』
11:8
我說:『主啊,這是不可的!凡俗而不潔淨的物從來沒有入過我的口。』
11:9
第二次,有聲音從天上說:『神所潔淨的,你不可當作俗物。』
11:10
這樣一連三次,就都收回天上去了。
11:11
正當那時,有三個人站在我們所住的房門前,是從凱撒利亞差來見我的。
11:12
聖靈吩咐我和他們同去,不要疑惑(或譯:不要分別等類)。同著我去的,還有這六位弟兄,我們都進了那人的家。
11:13
那人就告訴我們,他如何看見一位天使站在他屋裡,說:『你打發人往約帕去,請那稱呼彼得的西門來,
11:14
他有話告訴你,可以叫你和你的全家得救。』
11:15
我一開講,聖靈便降在他們身上,正像當初降在我們身上一樣。
11:16
我就想起主的話說:『約翰是用水施洗,但你們要受聖靈的洗。』
11:17
上帝既然給他們恩賜,像在我們信主耶穌基督的時候給了我們一樣;我是誰,能攔阻上帝呢?」
11:18
眾人聽見這話,就不言語了,只歸榮耀與上帝,說:「這樣看來,上帝也賜恩給外邦人,叫他們悔改得生命了。」

 

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

 

***********

 

    彼得和那些同來的猶大基督徒知道到哥尼流家傳福音將會遇到許多的質問,可能有一些心理準備了。所以,彼得在他們面前將事件的始末詳細說了一遍,尤其是自己和哥泥流看見異象的過程,以及講道中聖靈降臨的事,最後下結論說:「就想起主的話說:『約翰是用水施洗,但你們要受聖靈的洗。』上帝既然給他們恩賜,像在我們信主耶穌基督的時候給了我們一樣;我是誰,能攔阻上帝呢?」

 

    這樣的述說也讓這一群質疑的人不言語了,只歸榮耀與上帝,說:「這樣看來,上帝也賜恩給外邦人,叫他們悔改得生命了。」

 

    而這樣的事件,讓我們感受到異文化之宣教,不是靠人的熱心開始的,是上帝的作為。雖然在西方的教會有「海外宣教運動」,好像是出於人的行動,其實背後還是上帝的作為!

 

    今日我們進行宣教或許不一定要到異文化的地方,但是跟隨上帝的引導是必要的,目的不只是讓人喜歡聽我們的信息,而是要人真正皆被聖靈引導而願意接受耶穌基督成為救主,願意將生命交託在上帝的手中,並且存著盼望到永生!這一切都要聖靈藉著教會生活來完成,人只能作栽培與澆灌的工作,甚至栽培和澆灌人都要順從聖靈的工作呢!

 

    讓我們預備好自己成為主可用的澆灌和栽培的人!